Time is money. That is particularly true on small jobsites, where work has to be completed quickly but reliably day after day. And that is exactly what the W 60 Ri small milling machine from Wirtgen delivers. As soon as the job is done, it is quickly loaded and ready to speed off to its next project.

The Norwegian milling service provider Asfalt Remix AS has recognized this advantage. The company attaches particular importance to the versatility and cost-effectiveness of its machines. The short road construction season in Scandinavia makes the company reliant on the efficiency and flexibility of its machines. And that is precisely why it exclusively uses machines from Wirtgen for its core business – cold milling.

Headquartered near Oslo, Asfalt Remix AS has been serving customers throughout Norway for more than 20 years. For the 2017 season, the country’s largest milling service provider expanded and updated its fleet of around 20 machines, adding 2 Wirtgen W 60 Ri small milling machines to the lineup along with 3 Wirtgen large milling machines of type W 220. The small milling machines more than proved their flexibility and versatility over the season.

“The sophisticated machine concept, together with other invaluable details, delivers the edge that ultimately is the key to economic success,” says Eyvind Brynildsen, junior director of Asfalt Remix.

On jobsites, the W 60 Ri small milling machine hits the mark with numerous easy-to-use added and automated functions. Milling machine operator Jon Anders Fjeld, for instance, is thrilled that the height of the machine can be adjusted using the multifunctional armrest. It means he can adjust the height and save the set value with just one hand while remaining comfortably seated. When the milling drum is lowered into the working position on a parallel track, the machine then mills to exactly the same depth as before. In total, 4 buttons on the W 60 Ri can be customized with a range of functions, allowing each operator to adapt the small milling machine perfectly to their own working style and the requirements of a particular jobsite. In Norway, where surface courses are mainly milled to a depth of 4 cm, this function saves a lot of time.

What is more, the display on the multifunctional armrest shows a lot of important information such as job data (e.g. the milled area, and the number of trucks loaded), the filling level of the tank, the current advance rate and the selected milling drum speed. This information enables the operator to organize the work optimally, as well as any stops for refueling and changing cutting tools.

Apart from the actual milling work, maneuvering is a major part of the day-to-day work of a small milling machine operator. This includes travel to and from the transport vehicle and the job site, as well as maneuvering and backing off on site. On many days, Mr. Anders Fjeld has to work on 4 or more jobsites. To ensure this tight schedule can be kept to, Wirtgen has, for instance, accelerated the speed at which the rear wheel swivels in: 30 seconds is all it takes. The milling drum has no contact with the ground, so the pavement is not damaged by the maneuvering.

The small milling machine also moves swiftly from the transport vehicle to its position on the jobsite, traveling at a speed of up to 12 km/h (4-wheel version) or 8 km/h (3-wheel version). Relocating to the start of the next milling track is also speedy, because this small milling machine can reverse with the milling drum activated.

In maneuvers, the offset arrangement of the front wheels allows the machine to drive up against obstacles or edges. Wirtgen has also equipped the machine with particularly large front wheels, which minimizes wear while reducing the surface load on the base.

In all maneuvers, steering can optionally be performed using the joystick on the multifunctional armrest or – if the locking angle is to be particularly great – using the steering wheel. Once the rear wheel is swiveled in, it is automatically steered as well. This ingenious design reduces the turning radius. Since small milling machines often have to turn in the tightest of spaces, this feature additionally speeds up the work while maximizing cost-efficiency.

“The easy loading and great flexibility when maneuvering are simply phenomenal. This helps me get through my workload of small jobsites each day,” says Jon Anders Fjeld, summarizing his experience with the W 60 Ri. “Thanks to the many innovations, the new small milling machine is even more powerful overall than the preceding generation.”

Accurate leveling is a crucial factor for precise milling. Here too, the Asfalt Remix team is a firm believer in Wirtgen solutions. LEVEL PRO PLUS, Wirtgen's advanced automatic leveling system, can be operated intuitively and supports an extremely high degree of automation.

“Ultimately, that further increases the precision of the milling results and leads to high quality,” says junior director and operations manager Eyvind Brynildsen.

After the first season, he is highly satisfied with his new small milling machines.

“The W 60 Ri is a real premium machine and is extremely economical. Firstly, because it allows us to complete our projects quickly. And secondly, because we can handle a vast range of tasks using one and the same small milling machine,” he adds.